During my time in the Navy, I traveled to 20 countries and 49 U.S. states. I was dismayed to find that New York's infrastructure is in poor condition compared to the rest of the country and the world. Crumbling roads, outdated transit systems, and dangerously deteriorating bridges pose a threat to our safety and hinder our economy every day they aren't fixed.

Why does it have to be this way? Why do moms and dads have to struggle with traffic to get their kids to and from school and appointments? Should senior citizens sit in traffic on their way to the drugstore? Should Long Island commuters spend hours every week getting to and from work instead of spending that time with their families?

New York's infrastructure problem is exacerbated by the fact that for every dollar we send to Washington in federal taxes, we get only ninety cents back. Only five states have worse ratios. We need Members of Congress who will stand up and fight for our fair share.

As a Village Trustee, I initiated the first major road repaving project in 20 years, giving motorists a smoother and safer ride home. I worked to ensure paving contracts were awarded to the most responsible bidder, without raising taxes.

In Washington, I have supported Congress in allocating funds equitably, particularly from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), to each state so they can adequately address their infrastructure needs. This should be followed by a federal survey to assess the quality of the improvements made. While I wasn't in Congress to vote for the IIJA, I would have loudly and proudly supported it. Properly addressing Long Island's and the nation's infrastructure needs would significantly improve transportation and help us avoid future disasters.

Regarding public transportation, I led the fight to ensure equitable funding flows through New York and the Northeast by holding up my own party's transportation funding bill until it reversed drastic cuts to northeast rail. In the end, I succeeded in restoring funding to Amtrak, the Northeast Regional, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and the Long Island Railroad (LIRR). I will always put Long Island and New York first, and you can count on that as long as I am in Congress.